9 September 2008
Sheboygan Girl Scouts Fight Merger
Posted by admin under: Girl Scout Reorganization .
Here’s something I didn’t expect to see. Eric Litke at the Green Bay Press Gazette says that Wisconsin’s Manitou Council has actually filed a lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of the USA to get an injunction against having to merge in the Girl Scouts reorganization. They cite the terms of their charter and damage that would result from merging as reasons why.
The Girl Scouts of Manitou Council is seeking an injunction to halt GSUSA’s plan to merge all Girl Scout troops in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac and Calumet counties into a council that encompasses 58 Wisconsin counties and part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, said council spokeswoman Paula McGill.
The mandated reorganization is scheduled to take effect Sept. 15, and the local council is asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to stay the merger until the two sides resolve a lawsuit in Milwaukee’s U.S. District Court in which Manitou seeks to permanently block the restructuring.
I can honestly say that as much as I’ve disagreed with or been uncomfortable with national changes It never once occured to me to sue the GSUSA for making them. I guess that’s the difference between unpaid volunteers and professional employees.
Update: Becky (in comments) says that the board of directors made the decision to file the suit and they’re unpaid volunteers. I’m rolling the dice because I haven’t called to find out who Becky is and if her information is correct, but I’ll assume so. My quip about paid staff will have to be read with that in mind and only refer to all the other things volunteers normally grouse about. The staff is not responsible for trying to fight the merger.
Update2: How cow! Based on Becky’s comment I’d already noted that the staff wasn’t responsible for fighting the merger, but I just got an e-mail from Liesl Rice, the President of the Manitou Council, who wanted to make it explicitly clear that the board of directors, which is 100% volunteers, initiated the lawsuit. I’ve never been able to get Girl Scout professionals to give me information before so I didn’t bother to confirm the people who started the process. So, of course, I’ve got people volunteering to give me information this time. Hey, if you’re in Wisconsin and you’re in the Manitou council’s area you should feel like your people have got your back. I already feel sorry for the GSUSA. Between the volunteers and the professionals of Manitou the national organization better make sure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Now, if I can only get them on my side to get uniforming and traditional camping activities as the program focus of GSUSA I’d have no worries for the future of my Girl Scouts. Whew! (P.S.: Liesl, I loved you in the Sound of Music. 
)
- Sheboygan Wins, Merger Delayed
- Boy Scout Sell-off
- Sheboygan Update
- GSUSA: Los Angeles Girl Scouts Town Hall Meeting
- Illinois Boy Scout Merger
6 Comments so far...
Becky Says:
10 September 2008 at 3:50 pm.
Funny that you would think this lawsuit was decided by paid staff. The board of directors (unpaid volunteers for the Girl Scouts of Manitou Council) made the decision to file a lawsuit, not paid staff. I guess these volunteer board members just care deeply enough to fight for what’s right for the girls. Please do your research before posting such comments.
Thank you!
admin Says:
10 September 2008 at 3:56 pm.
Hm. I am debating whether or not to apologize. On the one hand I did get the facts wrong so I feel I should. On the other hand the board in my area is staffed by paid employees with a couple slots for volunteers. On the other hand I didn’t call to ask about the composition of the decision making body for the council before I posted my jibe. On the other hand I have called and written GS councils for facts in the past and have never gotten the information requested or just not gotten any kind of answer at all. Now that I have 4 hands and 2 feet I feel like a squid so I’ll just stop sprouting tentacles and say I’m sorry I got it wrong.
Becky Says:
11 September 2008 at 10:28 am.
Wow! Your council may want to check their bylaws and state law on the issue of paid board members making up the majority of the board of directors. Seems like a conflict of interest to me. Typically non-profit boards only have one or two ex officio members (non voting staff members) such as the CEO/ED.
» Sheboygan Update Says:
12 September 2008 at 11:26 am.
[...] page so I’m putting up another post here to let you know there’s new information on http://www.boyandgirlscouts.com/girl-scout-reorg/sheboygan-girl-scouts-fight-merger/ Possibly Related Posts: Sheboygan Girl Scouts Fight [...]
» Sheboygan Wins, Merger Delayed Says:
15 September 2008 at 4:42 am.
[...] Seeing as how I got myself in trouble incorrectly opining last time, I’ll refrain from editorial comment. Possibly Related Posts: Sheboygan Girl Scouts Fight Merger [...]
Liesl Rice Says:
2 January 2010 at 1:51 am.
Hi Admin-
A brief update on our case: GSUSA just sent us our renewed charter for 2010 which will make it increasingly difficult for them to argue a merger is crucial to GS success in our area. The council GSUSA ordered Manitou to merge with lost 25% of its membership in its first year and as a result is now struggling financially. The council announced it is going to focus on serving girls ages 5-8 who live in the densely populated areas of the state. Had Manitou followed GSUSA’s directive, many of our members would likely have been casualties of the “bigger is better” fallacy.
